How to Start a Backgammon Club

1. Find a good location. Choose a location that serves reasonably priced food and drinks and remains open until at least midnight. A side room with individual tables or booths is preferable to a closed room with long tables. Remember to tip your waitress well and encourage the other players to do so. A friendly waitress is invaluable to a backgammon club.

2. Be flexible about the day you meet. Ask the owner which day he would prefer to have you there on a weekly basis. Usually it's the day he needs the additional business, such as Tuesday or Wednesday.

3. Pick a friendly name. Avoid using words like "corporation" or "association". You want something that suggests getting together with friends and having a good time.

4. Don't bother with a formal club "board of directors". This is far too complex for a small club, and you're more likely to make far better decisions for your club and in a shorter time frame if you skip the process.

5. Don't charge a membership fee. You can address this once your club is established, not when it's just starting up.

6. Host a "Grand Opening" event. Try to guarantee a decent turnout by printing up flyers and putting them up in the bar and at local colleges. Also try to get a free listing in the "Events Calendar" of the local newspaper and/or student paper. This regular listing is usually your widest exposure. Keep the entry fee level with the local economy. Return 75%-85% of the entry fee in the Open division (perhaps even higher for your premiere event) and make the "Grand Opening" entry in the Beginner division free (award prizes like backgammon books, precision dice, etc.). You will lose money on the first tournament due to the expense of the supplies, advertising and prizes, but that is to be expected with any new business and should be factored into your budget.

7. Be prepared for low attendance: it will take a few months to build a base of interested players after you start holding regular meetings. Make sure that you always hold a tournament, even if there are only four of you who attend on a regular basis. Occasional players need to be aware of the fact that if they decide to attend, there will always be a tournament and the chance to win cash prizes and master points.